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June 6, 2005
If You Eat Healthy, That's Good.
Those were the truly inspired words uttered by my family physician upon my first visit ever. I gave him the letter from MR, the packet of articles, and a nice friendly smile as I explained about CR. He wasn't too interested, but agreed to give me most of the blood tests that MR said I should get. I had to argue with him to get a ferritin test (did I spell that wrong? I keep confusing it with a ferret, and I know I don't need to get tested for ferrets, as I do not now nor have I ever owned one. Not that I wouldn't. I like ferrets. Clever little creatures. Though they smell, so perhaps I wouldn't like one. A tarantula would be better, but exotic pets are such a hassle, and my life is complicated enough. I will stick with the two cats I have. But I digress.) I thought it odd that he would think I didn't need one, but he agreed to do it.
My blood pressure was 110/60, not bad but I suspect it would have been even lower had I not been forced to listen to the President talk about CAFTA on Fox News for fifteen minutes while waiting for my appointment. I kept thinking, "This is *literally* raising my blood pressure." I did try to do a little relaxation ritual by picturing myself in my darling Orange One's kitchen, chattering happily while he chops vegetables. I got my heart rate down that way, which was good as my heart beats really fast when I'm scared, and facing going to the doctor, I was scared.
Weight came in at 105, thanks no doubt to the extra water weight from tons of exercise and those lovely salty flatbreads and hummus last night. I was just as happy to see it closer to 105 than to 103... that's only three pounds "underweight" and less likely to attract attention.
The doctor didn't seem to get the idea that I wanted all these blood tests because I want to participate in a *study.* He kept saying, "You don't need that," as he read through the list. I just said, "Can I have it anyway?" and on most of them he said "Sure." I get the feeling this guy has been battered enough by life and people with health problems that he would be happy as long as I refrained from expiring on the examination table.
The doctor gave me a huge lecture about melanoma, as apparently his sister died of it. I am fanatical about sunscreen and staying out of the sun (though there are people more fanatical than I, for sure... I would wear a hat all the time if only I could find just the right hat that would conform to my fashion sense. Perhaps something with a Hello Kitty theme?). I check my skin all the time because I am very fair and redheaded and Scottish-ish. The doctor wants me to go get my skin photographed at the skin cancer clinic every year to make sure nothing changes. I may do so, if it's free. Why not? Might help us document how CR and staying out of the sun makes our skin beautiful until the end of time.
The doctor asked if I was taking Vitamin D and I said I was, but he said I needed to take 1000 IU a day. MR has me taking 1000 every other day, so I'm going to clarify with MR. Needless to say, I will be following MR's advice, not my doctor's.
All in all the doctor's visit was totally non-traumatic and only slightly annoying. He clearly didn't beieve that CR was going to do anything, but I don't care what he thinks as long as he orders my blood tests. This dude clearly won't be much help if I get hit by an SUV... have to work on those wallet-sized cards explaining who we are and what we do. I think I may put some effort into finding a doctor who is actually pro-CR, or at least moderately clueful. It would be nice to have someone I could work *with* instead of just getting around.
In other news, food has been okay so far today. Usual breakfast, 160 cals of cottage cheese and 15 g hazelnuts for lunch. Was planning to eat a kale salad but the one I had left in the fridge last week had started to smell so I threw it out. Will get tons of veggies for dinner. I have some tall, skinny asparagi waiting for me in the fridge. They really love to be drizzled with flax oil and the juice of a fresh lemon, sprinkled with brewers yeast, and then eaten head first. Ask them, they'll tell you. It's their favorite thing.
Posted by april at June 6, 2005 9:48 PM
Comments
Hi April,
I've been reading your CR blog for sometime. Today I began CR =). I didn't set a particular caloric limit. I just didn't eat any junk and stopped when i was satisfied.
I have a few questions though:
-i believe you mentioned that you were a vegan once. after A LOT of deliberation, today I decided should start to eat cheese and yoghurt again (i was never big on milk, and i'm allergic to eggs). not only for CR but i definitely wasn't getting enough protein and tofu is damn expensive. Can you recommend any high protein bfst besides egg whites?
-im a big fan of nuts but they they are very dense. do you eat them often for protein?
-you mentioned that you were scared of the doctor labeling you underweight...are you 5' 4"? I used to be 103 (i'm 5' 4") and my doctor never said i was underweight. unless he was a quack of a doctor. hmm
-when you started CR did you start at a base caloric level? i'm a little confused by this, how some people do and some people dont
well...that's it i think...sorry for the influx! keep up the good work!!! love reading your blog
Posted by: edaz19 at June 6, 2005 8:20 PM
Loved your account of visiting herr doktor. I've been thinking about getting some blood tests...did your insurance cover these tests? If not, what bank did you rob :-)
thanks for the continuing stream of diary
Posted by: Dave at June 7, 2005 10:13 AM
You might want to look for a doctor in a sports medicine clinic. Most big cities have such clinics with doctors specializing in health and nutrition, usually for athletes and such. They would likely have more open attitudes and less ignorance about CR.
Posted by: Aaron at June 7, 2005 10:41 AM
I love that google has now put an ad for the Ferret Store on your blog. ;-)
I'm curious about the vitamin D...why 1000 IU every other day instead of 500 every day?
Stay healthy!
-Liz
Posted by: Elizabeth at June 9, 2005 9:00 PM
Hi April,
I've decided to get started on CR myself. Today is Day One. Hehe, like a scene heading in a script for some post-apocalyptic world...
Anyway, I've started my own CR blog as well, over at http://longevityfirst.org/CR/. Not trying to show you up, but if I'm going to be tracking my calories, and if I've got all these weird thoughts going through my head anyway, then may as well share, right? Someone might be bored enough to read it...
But, to the point. You mentioned talking to your doctor about getting all sorts of tests. How did you set that up? Did you request the tests at the time of the visit? Did you discuss this ahead of time, so the doctor could prepare and maybe contact his labs to see what they offer?
I want to avoid multiple trips. Of course, starting on what I'll initially call a "weight-loss" diet may allow me to be covered by insurance, at least for a standard physical, as well as followup visits to monitor my progress. But I'd like to know how you approached the doctor in regards to getting extra tests. Also, does MR have a standard list of basic common tests to ask for in addition to the standard blood work done at a physical? I'm not talking about the whole shebang, just some basic markers that are desparately needed but missing from standard tests. My pockets are not deep. ;-)
Thanks a lot!
Jay D. Fox
Posted by: Jay Fox at June 10, 2005 8:43 AM